Method and system for dynamic conditional interaction in a VoiceXML run-time simulation environment

Abstract

A method and system for testing voice applications, such as VoiceXML applications, is provided. The system provides a run-time simulation environment for voice applications that simulates and automates user interaction. A user simulation script is provided in a customized mark-up language. The voice application is processed to derive a nominal output of the voice application. The user simulation script is processed to generate a simulated output for the voice application corresponding to the nominal output. Conditional logic may be applied to the nominal output to generate a simulated input in response thereto. The user simulation script is specified in a customized mark-up language having a set of one or more conditional tags and an internal variable for the nominal output of the voice application.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Statement of the Technical Field [0002] The present invention relates to the field of computer speech recognition, text-to-speech technology and telephony, and more particularly to a system and method for a run-time simulation environment for voice applications that simulates and automates user interaction. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Functionally testing voice applications presents many difficulties. In the case of a VoiceXML (VXML) application, a VXML interpreter communicates with a platform that supplies the necessary speech technology needed to test the application in real-time. These speech technologies, such as an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine, or a text-to-speech (TTS) engine or converter, are generally very CPU intensive and expensive to build and install. In addition to the speech technologies, to test a voice application a tester must also provided the input to the application. This usually requires a te...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Functionally testing voice applications presents many difficulties.

These speech technologies, such as an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine, or a text-to-speech (TTS) engine or converter, are generally very CPU intensive and expensive to build and install.

This usually requires a tester to physically perform the interaction, in the form of actual speech or key tone input, which may be cumbersome and difficult to provide.

Having a person perform the input can be time consuming and costly.

Furthermore, when testing a voice application, it can be difficult to mimic the true behavior of speech or audio input to the application, as well as any text-to-speech or pre-recorded audio output from the application.

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